Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer 
LADY T, with Ian Spence aboard, returns to scale after winning the Jamaica Oaks for the Hilma Veira Trophy by 1 1/4 lengths at Caymanas Park yesterday. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
LADY T joined a select band of fillies to have completed the Guineas and Oaks double with a fighting victory in the 68th running of the Jamaica Oaks over 2000 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday.
A shock winner at 71-1 of the 1000 Guineas over 1600 metres on April 7, LADY T running at odds of 5-2 with veteran jockey Ian Spence again riding for trainer Dwight Chen, battled on gamely in the last furlong to repel the challenge of the Guineas' fourth-place finisher, GRACE MARIE (11-1) under Devon A. Thomas, to win by 1 1/4 lengths in a field of 14.
Finishing third, a farther 4 3/4 lengths away was GEISHA'S ART (27-1) with leading jockey Javour Simpson , while fourth went to her more fancied stable companion, the Guineas' runner-up, RIO INFINITO (3-1), with former champion jockey Wesley Henry riding for trainer Gary Subratie.
It was RIO INFINITO on the outside who made most of the running, a length ahead of the 90-1 outsider ORION with LADY T rated just off the early pace in third, along with 18-1 chance XPRESS CARD and OUTFITHER (Winston Griffiths up) not far off, followed by the 2-1 favourite FIRST PRINCESS under Charles Hussey.
Strong challenge
But RIO INFINITO was not allowed to settle from the half-way stage as she was harassed by ORION on the inside and LADY T racing close up in third.
By the time they galloped towards the final bend, LADY T had mounted a strong challenge on the inside rails and pointed ahead of RIO INFINITO as they swung into the straight.
And when the Barry Dawes-trained GRACE MARIE, who failed to go the early pace, came with a sweeping challenge on the rails approaching the distance, LADY T responded well to the right-hand stick, finding a lot extra in the closing stages for a decisive win.
Owned by Western Syndicate and bred by her owners, Joseph and Shirley McKessy, LADY T, a three-year-old bay filly by Natural Selection out of the Exotic Traveler mare Tantrum, has now won three races from six starts to push her lifetime earnings to $3.1 million.
Sweet victory
Spence, who was winning his third classic following the fillies double and the 2000 Guineas aboard THE VICEROY in 1989, said he got LADY T to relax the way he wanted her to approaching the half mile and from then on, victory was always on the cards.
"She began to inch forward nicely on the leader and when the horse on the inside tested her approaching the furlong pole, I went back to her head and applied the whip vigorously and this brought her home," Spence explained.
An elated Shirley McKessy recalled that her outfit (Western Syndicate) had previously won the Oaks with NELL GWYN way back in 1970, but this victory was even sweeter as it came after so many years.
On a day when 14 women in sports were honoured by CTL, the Richard Azan owned and trained RAMPAGE (Javour Simpson up) won the Lady Geeta Trophy graded stakes supporting feature over 1200 metres in fine style, while evens favourite TANTESOLDE, with former champion jockey Trevor Simpson riding for 'Hall of Fame' trainer Allan 'Billy' Williams, romped the Ricochet Cup maiden special for three-year-old fillies over the round five course.
